Florida is the most south-eastern state in the United States of America. Known as "The Sunshine State", it became a popular winter destination for the well-to-do from colder climates over a century ago, and has gained ever greater popularity since. Its roots in agriculture are still present, with oranges being a chief export. The state postal abbreviation is FL. The capital of Florida is Tallahassee, located in the "Big Bend" area of the Florida Panhandle. The total population of Florida as of 2000 is 15,982,378; it is the 4th largest state population in the United States. The total area of the state of Florida is 58,560 square miles (151,670 km²). The beaches are one of the most popular attractions, along with some of the world's best known theme parks.
RegionsCitiesThere are many cities in Florida; these are some of the major ones:
Other destinations
UnderstandBeing a coastal area, frequent precipitation is common. While the rains are often brief, they are common, and plan for rain at least one or two of your days in Florida. Many attractions such as Disney World have multiple attractions available even during downpours. TalkEnglish is the official language of the state. However Spanish is widely spoken throughout the state. In some parts of South Florida, Spanish is the preferred laguage in everyday activites. The people of the Florida Panhandle, North Florida, and The Everglades and Lake Okeechobee region will usually speak in a southern accent. One will also come across a speaker of the southern dialect in rural parts of Central Florida. Get inAll of the state's major cities have airports. If you're seeking to go to the main tourist destinations like Orlando and Miami, plenty of flights will be available for reasonable rates, especially if you connect through Atlanta. If you're looking to drive in, the three main interstate highways are I-95, I-75, and I-10 if you're coming from the Northeast, Midwest, and West/Southwest respectively. Get aroundFlorida's major interstate highways include I-95, which runs north to south along the east coast, I-10, which runs from Jacksonville in the east across the panhandle to the west, and I-75, which enters the state from Georgia and runs south through Tampa and along the Gulf coast. U.S. Highway 1 is a historic and scenic highway which originates in Key West and continues up the east coast. This Florida Map site includes a detailed road map of the state, showing interstate, federal, and state highways. SeeDoEatDrinkStay safeFlorida has a high occurrence of hurricanes. You might want to check the Hurricane safety page if you are visiting Florida. Beware of lightning in the north central part of the state, especially Dixie County, the state's lightning capital. Volusia County is known for a high number of shark attacks, so be careful when surfing. Also, there is a high occurrence of tornados in Florida, so check the Tornado safety page. Get outHeading out of Florida to the north is Georgia. Here you will find the historic city of Savannah and the resort beach of Jeckyl Island. In Alabama, Mobile is a historic port city and gulf Shores is a popular resort. A little further out, Mississippi offers casino gaming in Biloxi and Gulfport.
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